Horizon Guy Laroche for men

Tried this because it was very cheap with good reviews. It starts off very strong, soapy and floral but fresh. It is heavily floral throughout but stays incredibly masculine with some sour and spicy notes.
Progresses nicely, complex and interesting and stays strong. There is a sour note I love that fades but never disappears. Late on it has leathery, musky notes but still retains the floral ones and it smells beautiful.

It seems to me that there are a lot of opposites in this: strong/subtle, fresh/heavy, cool/warm, floral/masculine, sweet/sour - and it seems very well balanced.

This is a heavy hitter - you can practically see the sillage trails off this.
Lasts forever - you can still smell it quite strongly the morning after.
2 little sprays of this are plenty. It could easily be cloying and overbearing if you used too much.

Used cautiously I think this is fantastic stuff. Can't believe the quality of it for the price I paid. I'll be stocking up. The only better scent I've found for this sort of money is Montana Parfum D'Homme.

I had this when I was about 19/20 and loved it. Forgot about it for a long time but found a cheapie bottle on-line. What everyone else says about it is true - unique smell, very powerful first impression; maybe a bit overpowering initially. Unusual take on aquatics but different.

I was cleaning out my collection and stumbled across this magic frosty blue bottle. I have always set it aside and have decided its time to rediscover it. It is much better than Drakkar Noir, and for the most part relegated to the final clearance shelves. I generally reject aquatics. This one take the class back to its green fougere origins.

A word about the original Drakkar. It was brilliant and lighter than Noir, which has its place. I had some in 1984 and preferred it to Noir. Horizon enters the race at second place.

This fougere is blue-green and loyal to the class, now sadly forgotten. The are so many notes that it plays like Oscar De La Renta PL, Kouros and Xeryus. It project several feet and lasts for hours. It is indeed a "powerhouse", which may scare todays crowd. Sorry boys, this is for men only. It was from an era of HERE I AM!, but I didnt say a word.

I do not get the aquatic note that often sickens me. The cool lavender/mint notes are very refreshing. The manly florals of cyclamen, jasmine, carnation, geranium and rose are so carefully blended with the pine. Never once do it get seaweed or algae. The leather, coumarin, sandalwood, mossy amber closing notes are so sublime. Oakmoss is prominent here and project it far. Its a classy dignified composition in every way.

The inspiration is the sea. It is more icy, than warm. Like the sea spray that freezes on rocks. I love wearing it in winter. The florals come alive in the cold. I keep mine in the freezer and on hot days a spray is so cooling on my skin.

The great tragedy is seeing it on final clearance at a dollar store! Its my triumph as I have a full bottle of this niche quality brilliance for $5.00 USD!!!

I chuckled in good humor while reading Bigsly's chief issue with Horizon - its considerable strength. Before even sniffing this scent, I knew it would be heavy. Most of the proto-aquatics of the late '80s and early '90s (pre-1994) tend to pack a wallop. I think it's interesting to observe how thick the sillage from these scents are. Stuff like Drakkar Noir, Polo Sport, Molto Smalto, and Insensé Ultramarine make their presence known, and Horizon is no exception. In light of this, unless you intend on making it your signature, I recommend sticking to the 1.7 oz. bottle, as it will go a very long way.

Now, on to the scent. Horizon opens with a bitter accord of grapefruit, lavender, pine, mint, and a "marine" note that is as bracing as it is heavy. The lavender - which is stunning - is the first horse out of the gate, followed by a minty grapefruit note. After ten or fifteen minutes, these elements meld into a more herbal and peppery fennel midsection, although the grapefruit continues to blare away. It's at this stage that things go from an evergreen color to a citrus blue. As the herbs settle, the abstract blue "marine" note, which is ostensibly calone, mingles with a warmer sandalwood and patchouli base. Maybe it's my imagination, but I swear this note smells like ambergris. It is very vague but it has that mineral twinkle to it. The grapefruit finally sweetens (and thankfully never sours), lending a certain brightness to the proceedings. Horizon's drydown is considerably more civilized than its wild opening, and the scent is artistically all the better for it.

If you're like me in finding mainstream aquatics distasteful, this unusual fougère from Guy Laroche might be your cup of tea. I think Horizon is terrific stuff, upper middle-shelf juice, worth far more than I paid for it. Simply stunning, considering what else is out there for ten times as much! It's aquatic, yes, but it's also greener and more complex than your standard Acqua di Gios, Nautica Voyages, and Azzaro Chromes. That said, it's much chewier in texture, denser, and less au courant. I find that the marine/wood notes in Horizon are dynamic, but still a bit "perfumey" and synthetic, perhaps due to their heavy-handed integration into the scent's core. Ironically, it's this accord that reminds me most of Drakkar Noir, and not the bitter citrus or pine needles. Nevertheless, Horizon is unisex, very well-made, and for the price it's worth checking out.

This Guy Laroche fragrance never caught on like Drakkar did. But I LOVE this fragrance. It lasts a long time, and has a fresh sea/ocean smell to it. I wish it was never discontinued. Bought it as a gift set back in 1995, and able to snag another one years later. I will savor it occasionally as I don't want it to run out!!

Tried this for the first time tonight, and was pleasantly surprised. Not another copycat scent like Polo Blue or Polo Black, which smell to me like every other men's scent (CK One) released in the last 15 years. Not some soft-and-squishy, limp-wristed, hand-wringin' unisex pansy scent, either. Very complicated, long-lasting, woodsy, smoky. If you like Polo (Green), Paco Rabanne Pour Homme, or Drakkar Noir, try this scent before it's too late.

If you like this scent (and my wife certainly likes it on me), better lay in a supply soon - I bought mine at an "everything's a dollar" store (bought every bottle they had - "makes a great gift"...). It also no longer appears on the Guy Laroche website.

The lavender in this is very strong, and it's clearly a fougere type of accord. The other strong thing you notice is a marine note. Think seaweed (with some unidentified things stuck to it) on the beach at Montauk Point, not a cool breeze as you sit on a beach in the Caribbean. There is also a strong peppery quality that comes and goes. This is the only frag that I had a negative comment on, probably because I am discreet, usually only spraying once to the chest, but that was too much with Horizon, apparently (though that was 2 sprays to the chest).

The base is actually quite good, definitely "old school," but with my skin chemistry, the lavender/fougere and marine elements last far too long. I'd also say that this may come across as "synthetic," though I couldn't tell you why. Longevity and projection/"sillage" are very strong. I would have diluted this and tried it again but I broke my bottle! If you want a "dirty" marine note added to an "80s power" fragrance, give this a try. If you want a cheap aquatic that is similar to Acqua di Gio, you are in for an unpleasant surprise!

UPDATE: I reacquired a bottle and have found that misting it into the air then walking through the mist is a great application method with this one. It's almost stronger than an eau de parfum, though the box says eau de toilette, so the density of it needs to be lessened or else it's too "thick" and heavy for me. However, it still has a kind of sour quality that those who like the common aquatic fragrances might really dislike. For me, it's one of the few true "masculine" fragrances that can compete with the best "feminine" ones in terms of construction. What that means is it's strong up front and has some good note/accord contrast (here it is a fougere accord and "marine notes"). That lasts a very long time and the complex base comes forward just enough to balance out the top accords. In most of today's men's fragrances, by contrast, the top notes dissipate and a generic base takes over within one to two hours. The patchouli is quite strong eventually, and it is not softened up, as in several Mugler fragrances, so if you dislike patchouli this may be one to avoid.

UPDATE #2: Is there calone in here or something else that produces the strong marine accord? I doubt any natural extract was used, so if not, what could be doing it? If it was a huge amount of calone, wouldn't that smell really "synthetic?" Also, descriptions of calone that I've read are not consistent with Horizon. Here is one:

"For all of you who believe you may not be familiar with Calone: you ARE familiar with it — Calone is present in hundreds of masculine and feminine perfumes, especially ones that proclaim an affinity with the seaside. When the words “aquatic,” “marine” or “oceanic” are included in a list of perfume notes, or in a perfume description, the chances are good Calone is in the formula. Calone is so ubiquitous, when I smell it I think: “Department Store Perfume Counter, Anywhere, USA”. (I also sometimes think: “Housework!” because there are lots of Calone-rich cleaning products on the market; Calone = Clean.)

Calone was discovered by the drug company Pfizer in 1966 and is similar in chemical structure to pheromones secreted by certain brown algae*. Calone’s molecular structure also resembles tranquilizers** and I can attest to the ‘sleep-inducing’ — i.e. boredom-producing — effects of Calone; the scent of Calone is everywhere: in anti-bacterial wipes, supermarket soaps and detergents, “fine” fragrances and candles. But don’t call me an outright “Calone-Hater”; though Calone can be “obnoxious” and harsh (semi-industrial in character) when it dominates a perfume, if Calone is skillfully blended with other notes, especially rich notes, it can buoy a fragrance, add zing."

You can find the rest of this article at nstperfume dot com. For some reason, it's not letting me post the actual link here.

To me this smells like ocean air & grapefruit, heavy, & long lasting - a BEAST. Something similar to this but more subtle & a bit smoother is quiksilver. You MUST NOT OVERAPPLY! Another layering frag might be needed here - something soft and sweet to tame this. Oh, yeah, like others have said - DO NOT spray on clothes - it doesn't work with the frag.

One of the best summer fragrances ever concocted IMHO. It will always remind me about my summer of 1994 when I did my driving license aged 21. I was so young then and life was so good. The fragrance just fit into my life and I loved the light freshness with added sophistication.
The aldehydes are the first burst of this fresh, floral musky floral concoction.
It is probably the best "aquatic" scent after KENZO's 1992 L'Eau par Kenzo.

I have never seen this again on the shelves ever since then, so I don't think it was a great success, sadly.

I do however remember it was not particularly long-lasting.

Newer and better fragrances followed suit with bigger names and promotions: TOMMY by Hilfiger, ACQUA DI GIO, CK One, following the big aquatic trend in the 90ies and just pushed this wonderful composition into oblivion.

Sad.

Horizon is fantastic stuff. A lovely sweet and fresh ozone/minty/herbal/aquatic opening. The drydown is like slightly minty sea air. Staying power and projection are excellent. One of the most refreshing fragrances and it's perfect for summertime.

Horizon by Guy Laroche

The good:

Horizon is a dark, juicy take on the aquatic genre that opens with juicy citrus, fruits, aquatic notes, mint, and lavender. This "cooling" effect lasts throughout the drydown thanks to the mint and geranium notes. Some slight pine-like, forest notes make an entry as Horizon dries down and give it an outdoorsy feel combined with the aquatic notes. Oakmoss in the base. The longevity and sillage are both superb - I get up to 9 hours out of Horizon.


The bad:

This is a very unique scent, and not for everyone. The top notes can be quite shocking just because of how unique they are. Definitely try before you buy.


The ugly:

The fact that Horizon doesn't get more recognition. It's unconventional for sure, but with the immense popularity Drakkar Noir has garnered, why can't Horizon get some attention?


Bottom line:

Guys, try it. You don't have to like it, but at least try it to get an idea of what an aquatic can be with some attention to detail. I find it to be absolutely mouth-watering and strangely enticing. The price? Unbeatable. One of the few aquatic fragrances that actually "wow" me (along with New West by Aramis, Kenzo Pour Homme, Aqua Motu by Comptoir Sud Pacifique, and Bulgari Aqua).

Where do i begin?
The initial blast has a distant sweetness and i hoped it would last sometime. But not my luck. The scent goes into full herbal territory and honestly there's no trace of aquatic or dewy notes or whatsoever. Minty herbs paradise! It doesn't cheer me up or evoke some sort of feelings! Time will tell.

EDIT: I decided that Horizon will be my scent for Rainy summer and fall days. I think it projects better during windy days and cooler weather

I think is this is a very herbal and very unsweet fragrance , I personally like it but can see why others may not if they like sweet scents . Nice bottle .This to me does smell a little dated but it is different and I lie that about it

Having been a big fan of Drakkar Noir for many years, I really wanted to smell other scents by Guy LaRoche. This one for some reason, was nearly impossible for me to find here in the NE United States. Thank you very much to Action for the lovely decant-great swapping with you!...

If Drakkar Noir is the "bad boy", Horizon is his outdoorsy younger brother. Bright, sporty, athletic and green. This has many notes listed (as does DN) but they are so well blended; that ultimately, there are notes that come and go during its development, but it is overall very "green" and warmly fresh...

The opening is very bright, with citruses, sharp herbs and some dry florals. It reminds me of a clear summer day without a cloud in the sky...green meadows, herbs growing, lush leaves and fresh air. As it begins to dry it becomes somewhat softer and warmer-carnation and geranium make it manly and floral while caraway adds a hint of warm spiciness to the green pine needles and remaining flowers-here it is sweet but refined, smooth and sexy. The drydown is all man. Forget about the usually generic combination of the listed basenotes, this is woody but not at all common, mossy but not overly thick, musky and leathery-but not in a brutish way: more of a smooth and sexy way. The amber and patchouli are swirling around in there too, but are not really oriental; they just add to the overall rich (but not heavy) feel here. This is very aptly named as it reminds me of where the sea meets the sky on a bright clear day-superlative!

Sillage: excellent
Longevity: above average
Overall: 4.75/5

There was also a Drakkar (original) but I have not been able to find that either; since it was discontinued in favor of continued production of the Noir. If you like complex fragrances wellmade and elegant, with an overly green, natural feel get this. Can't find it right away...keep looking, as this is worth the search! Horizon is currently one of my new favorite fragrances!

Sea salt, exotic pepper and a bit of humidity. That is what I smell lingering on my skin after application.

The drydown shifts a bit like the smells of a beach would shift as you were walking along it.

Horizon is on the discrete, calm and manly unsweet side.

So you have to spray like mad if you want to create an aura of homecoming sailor about you.

I love Horizon, I bought it in '94 but never wore it, it was a little too mature for me at the time, so it sat unused in my closet until summer '08, well Im on my second bottle now, that ought to tell you how much I like it. Horizon is different than other colognes I'v smelled before, its fresh, a little soapy and a bit dirty with lots of green and floral notes, slightly aquatic with a hint of mint.

I can wear this everyday, I especially like to wear it when its raining out, also in the fall/winter (even though its more of a summer scent). I love how its a little dirty, just the right amount, with out being to dirty. When I wear this its reminds me of a dark cloudy/rainy summer day (Possibly in the UK). It goes on a little soapy, but dries down pretty quickly and smells even better, it also last a fairly long time.

I If you are looking for something a bit different and a cologne not to many other guys wear or have ever heard of, then buy this, its a one of a kind, GEM!

acuatico y fresco, no muy dulce en el fondo de las notas. De buena persistencia en la piel.

I have come to really like this cologne. It seemed a bit overpowering at first, and when I first applied it it reminded me of bug spray, and if sprayed on clothes it keeps that same scent, it *must* be applied to the skin, and then once it dries down, it is absolutely wonderful. And it lasts much longer than a lot of the very pricey colognes I wear, i.e. Creed. It is very unique, and still masculine.

very fresh, cool perfume, love wearing it everiday

Horizon has a fresh, peppery, mint and spice thing going on with a dominant fennel overtone. It is very linear, the scent stays mostly the same throughout it's duration. There is a slightly soapy turn as the heart fades into the base after few hours. I'm glad I found Horizon, it's different than any other cologne I have. Although the notes listed here say that there is musk and amber, I don't ever get anything resembling musk or amber notes. It keeps it's (musk-less & amber-less) freshness to the end. Longevity is very good.

Very sharp and bold. Horizon is good for daytime casual/sports wear.

Although this is great for the Spring and Summer, I find it's even better in the Fall/Winter. The cool weather brings out a lot more florals than I can smell in the hot weather. Truly a versatile scent, excellent all year round.

This can be found at a very low price, but try before buying, it's very unusual.